Apparently, there’s a new James Bond game in the works.
As of this writing, there isn’t much to go off aside from the recently released teaser trailer. And even then, the trailer isn’t much to go off either. We only get to see the inner workings of the famed gun barrel. Traditionally, the gun would fire, resulting in blood cascading down the lens. We don’t even get that far before the trailer shows us text that says Project 007. Then it ends.
If you visit the IO Interactive website, you are treated to the following message:
It’s Bond, James Bond
Project 007 (working title) is a brand new James Bond video game to be developed and published by IO Interactive.
Featuring a wholly original Bond story, players will step into the shoes of the world’s favorite Secret Agent to earn their 00 status in the very first James Bond origin story.
IO Interactive is currently recruiting elite talent from around the world to join the team that will build out this exciting and unique gaming title
Then there’s a button that says “Join the team.”
That’s pretty much it. But even in this brief message, there are several things to unpack here. This leads to some wild speculation on my part, so buckle up, folks.
First of all, the text states that this is “a brand new James Bond video game to be developed and published…” Heavy emphasis on the to be part of this. We don’t yet know anything about the development timeline, but this suggests the game is still very much in its early or pre-production stage. Add to this the fact that IOI seems to still be actively recruiting, and this game could very well several years out still.
Secondly, this claims the game will feature “a wholly original Bond story,” which will depict an origin of how Bond achieves the 00 rank. This is a bit confusing, as in the 2006 film Casino Royale, the first of Daniel Craig’s Bond outings, we basically see how he gets his 00 status in the opening black-and-white sequence. If this upcoming game is an original story and doesn’t follow that same setup, the game might feature an original version of James Bond that’s disconnected from the film series.
However, IO Interactive could very well just be fleshing out the story that’s hinted at by that sequence in the film. But wouldn’t that require Daniel Craig to reprise his role for the game? I hope not, as I have never found Daniel Craig to be all that convincing in the role.
Now, this is where I really begin to speculate, as given the recent track record for IO Interactive (namely the way they’ve been pumping out Hitman titles), I don’t feel that a Hitman-style brand of stealth gameplay is a good fit for a Bond experience. The trial-and-error, costume-switching nature of Hitman almost feels antithetical to James Bond’s modus operandi. This is especially true for more recent Bond films, as the character has grown into a powerhouse of a wrecking ball over the last several decades. And that’s to say nothing of the incredibly stiff nature of Agent 47, who walks like he’s on rails. I don’t feel like the Hitman game engine — at least as it plays in Hitman games — would be a natural fit.
All that said, I am actually looking forward to seeing how this games shakes out. I was a decent enough fan of most of the James Bond games from over the decades, with 2005’s From Russia with Love being a standout for me. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that I would welcome a return to an older approach to the story and setting of this new game.
I would love to see a 1960s aesthetic and setting, with all of the clothes, cars, and gadgets to go with it. If IO Interactive can manage to get away from the Bourne stain that has tainted the series with each subsequent movie since Casino Royale, they could really get into the weeds of exploring that golden age of spy cinema and sidestep making just another action game.
Of course, only time will tell how this game will shake out. And believe you me, I will be keeping an eye on how it progresses, as I would love to see IO Interactive step out from the shadows of the Hitman series to create something new and fresh, but also something that’s worthy of the James Bond IP. But really, I would just love to see a really good James Bond game, since it’s been quite a while.
You can check out the teaser trailer below to get pumped for Project 007. I’ll be watching this one closely, so check back for any updates as I anxiously await more info.
